第一财经·2025-06-07 15:36Core Viewpoint - The production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is expected to reach 2 million tons by 2025, which will only account for 0.7% of total aviation fuel usage. Despite the doubling of production from 1 million tons in 2024, exponential growth is necessary to meet the aviation industry's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2050 [1]. Group 1: SAF Production and Demand - SAF is derived from sustainable sources such as biomass and waste cooking oil, potentially reducing lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 85% compared to traditional fossil fuels [3]. - The European Union mandates that all flights departing from its airports must blend a certain percentage of SAF, starting with 2% in 2025, which translates to a demand of nearly 1 million tons, double the global market demand in 2023 [3][4]. - China aims for a SAF consumption of over 20,000 tons in 2025, with a cumulative consumption of 50,000 tons, representing 0.2% of its annual aviation fuel consumption [4]. Group 2: Industry Participation and Production Capacity - Several domestic companies are entering the SAF production sector, including Sinopec, which has developed SAF production capabilities and partnered with TotalEnergies to produce 230,000 tons annually [5]. - As of now, China has established a SAF production capacity of 350,000 tons, with various companies utilizing waste cooking oil as a primary raw material [5][6]. Group 3: Cost Challenges and Market Dynamics - The average cost of SAF is projected to be 3.1 times that of traditional aviation fuel in 2024 and 4.2 times in 2025, primarily due to compliance fees imposed by fuel suppliers [8]. - The price of traditional aviation fuel is expected to decrease by 13% in 2025, further exacerbating the cost disparity between SAF and conventional fuels [8]. - To achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the aviation industry may face costs as high as $4.7 trillion, necessitating government policies to stimulate SAF production and reduce costs [8][9].